Hermione awoke the next morning feeling very rested. Her bed felt
like she'd slept on a cloud of feathers. After dressing in her new robes
and doing her hair and makeup, she made her way to the common room she
shared with Draco to get some reading in before the Beauxbatons students
were set to arrive.
The returning students were scheduled to arrive between 1 and 3 pm. They were given two more hours after than to unpack, and greet people before the new students were to arrive at 5 pm at which time they would be sorted into their houses and the school would enjoy their first dinner together.
As Hermione entered the common room, she smiled at its calm demure. She loved the small trickling noise the waterfall gave off as it splashed into the reflecting pool. She walked over and looked in it. There were a few small, rainbow colored fish that hadn't been there the day before. She watched them swim in a few circles before a book shelve across the room caught her attention.
She walked over to the small shelve against the wall. She was surprised it she hadn't seen it the day before. The book titles immediately caught her fancy. She grabbed the first one to catch her eye, "Beauxbatons: A History" and took it over to a couch.
Curling up, she was easily pulled into the book for a few hours. Eventually, she heard the creak of Draco's door opening. It was the first distraction she'd had all morning.
Marking the book with her finger, she looked up to watch him sleepily stumbling his way to the bathroom they shared. She giggled at his plaid boxer shorts and ruffled ribbed white tank he wore.
He gave her a glance, but decided he was too tired to start anything and offered her a mumbled, "Morning Granger" as he entered the bathroom. A moment later, she heard the water turn on and she turned back to her book. She'd been reading about how they'd managed to enchant the walls of the potions classroom to look like water was running down them.
About thirty minutes later, Draco emerged from the bathroom having finished his shower and interrupted Hermione again. This time she continued holding the book up, but peeked at him over the edge. She couldn't help herself. He'd walked out wearing only a towel around his waist.
'Since when has Draco Malfoy had so many muscles?' she thought to herself as she stifled a giggle. 'Whoa, Hermione. What was that?! You did not just have an impure thought revolving around Malfoy. He's is pure evil. He's mean to you, he's mean to everyone!" Hermione wrinkled her nose and lifted the book back up, blocking her view. She was not attracted to Malfoy, and that was final.
~*~
"Granger are you coming?" Malfoy knocked on her room. She'd gone in after lunch to write her parents and tell them she'd arrived safely.
Impatiently he pounded again, "I'm not going to wait for you." He sighed and turned away.
Right as he was turning away, Hermione opened the door and walked past him. He gave her a look.
"Coming?" asked Hermione, stopping for him to follow.
"I suppose," he mumbled as they left together to meet their fellow students.
~*~
After the new students were sorted, Madam Maxine introduced Hermione and Draco as Head Girl and Boy. Much to their surprise and appeasement, the students responded with cheers of excitement and encouragement.
When she announced their houses, all of the etoiles and all of the soleils cheered loudly for their new members. Hermione and Draco both felt very welcomed.
When the arrival banquet was over, Draco and Hermione left to meet their new house members on a more personal level.
~*~
"Hermione!" Padma Patil called as Hermione entered Le Maison des Etoiles.
"Hello Padma!" she smiled walking over. Padma was also dressed in the shimmery blue robes that marked a student of Etoiles.
"Don't you absolutely adore it here?" she gushed. "I mean it's absolutely fantastic! Like some sort of magical fairy tale!"
"It really does seem like it," both girls giggled in excitement. They were very fortunate to be receiving such a royal treatment.
"Padma!" a voice called behind them. The girls turned to see a tall, tan girl with long, thick, wavy dark brown hair walk over. "Is this your friend from Hogwarts?" She smiled pleasantly at Hermione.
"It just happens to be her," Padma smiled.
"Jacqueline Bonnette," she smiled extending her hand to Hermione.
Hermione shook it and smiled, "Hermione Granger."
"Our new Head Girl!" she beamed. "We are very excited you're joining us! All of us Stars are extremely proud to be housing the Head Girl!" Before Hermione could reply, Jacqueline turned and called to a shorter girl with shoulder length black hair and olive skin.
"Maddie, come here! Come meet our Head Girl!" She smiled as the other girl walked over. "By the way, I forgot to mention it, but I'm a Prefect also. Seventh year too," she smiled again as Maddie arrived.
"Hi, I'm Madeleine Duval. You can call me Maddie if you like, Jacq always does," she smiled, shaking Hermione's hand. "Nice to see you again, Padma," she smiled; adding to her fellow Prefect she'd met earlier upon her arrival.
"I'm in my sixth year, my second being a Prefect," she smiled. "You're lucky Hermione, and you Padma. I'd love to be in the TriWizard Exchange! Maybe next year," she smiled.
Hermione smiled back, she like Jacqueline and Madeleine very much already. So far, everyone she'd met had welcomed her whole-heartedly.
"Oh, while you're both here, I had something I wanted to ask of you," Jacqueline said excitedly. "Every year, Prefects in Etoiles plan a welcome party. Would you like to help Madeleine and myself do it this year?"
"I'd love to," said Hermione.
"Oh, me too!" added Padma.
"Wonderful," said Maddie, "We start planning tomorrow after classes. The party will be three days from now on Friday."
"Ok," said Hermione and Padma simultaneously.
"By the way, if you have any questions for us about Beauxbatons or Le Maison des Etoiles, please ask anytime," Jacqueline smiled.
"I do actually," Hermione began, "about the name.?"
"It means 'House of the Stars'. We're encouraged at Beauxbatons to use English as much as possible as it is the main Wizarding language, so most of us refer to ourselves as 'Stars'," Jacqueline answered.
"And the other houses?" Padma asked.
"Le Maison du Soleil means 'House of the Sun'. We just call them Suns," she continued.
"Or Sunshines!" Maddie laughed, "But only to tease. It works
especially well with the boys."
All of the girls laughed.
"Yes, we do tease them a lot. Sunshines are the most outgoing people
at Beauxbatons and perennially known as the best Quidditch team," Jaqueline smiled. "Anyway, Le Maison de la Lune, means 'House of the Moon'. Moonies are generally very quiet and reflective. And Le Maison de la Mer means 'House of the Sea'. We all call the Mermaids. It's especially grand to call the boys mermaids. They absolutely detest the name!"
All of the girls laughed again.
"Etoiles is by far the best house, though!" beamed Maddie, "Well, at least we think so!"
They all laughed again.
Hermione spent the next two hours getting acquainted with Jacqueline and Madeleine, and meeting the other member of her new house.
Meanwhile, Draco was meeting the member of Le Maison du Soleil.
"Um, excuse me, hello," he said as he walked into a darkened common room. He wondered if they'd all gone somewhere. "Is there anyone here?"
Suddenly the light flicked on and the room was filled with yells of, "Welcome Draco!"
Draco's eyes widened it shock. Around him were all of the brightly robed members of Le Maison du Soleil, and they were all having a party, apparently for him!
"Draco!" he tall blonde boy walked over to him. He was rather strongly built. "Vincent Charles," he extended a hand. "We are all so excited that you're here! It's such an honor to have you as our Head Boy," he smiled warmly.
Draco was in shock. Never in his life had anyone greeted him so warmly; not even when he returned home from Hogwarts did his parents do anything out of sorts. And here he was in a room full of people, all of whom were cheering for him and waiting there turn to greet him properly.
"Um, pleasure," he shook Vincent's hand.
"I'm a Seventh year Prefect also and Keeper of our house Quidditch team. We hear you're out new Captain and Seeker!" he looked very excited.
Draco offered him a weak smile and a somewhat inaudible noise that wasn't very decipherable.
"Alex, my best friend, he is at Durmstrang; he's Beauxbaton's representative Head Boy and former Quidditch captain. Lead us the four straight years of victory! We're sure you'll have no trouble filling his shoes though! You are Head Boy at Hogwarts after all!" he beamed.
Draco simply nodded. They all seemed to have so much faith in him. No one had even had faith in him, not to his knowledge at least. Unless you count Slytherin, but none of his old housemates were worth much to him.
"Hey, can I have all of the house Quidditch team come over here?!" he called. The house cheered as two girls and three boys stepped forward to Draco and Vincent.
Draco noted they were treated as somewhat of celebrities in the house.
"This is Paulette, a fifth year Chaser," a cute girl with short brown hair shook Draco's hand, "And Camille, a fourth year chaser," a petit girl with long flowing auburn hair shook his hand. Both girls giggled after they did so.
Draco forced himself not to roll his eyes.
"And Bernard, our other fourth year chaser," he introduced a tall black haired boy. He politely shook Draco's hand.
"And these two," Vincent pointed at two tall blond boys behind him.
"Us two what?" One of them rolled his eyes.
"Admit it Vin, you adore us!" the other walked up and put in arm around the Vincent's shoulders.
"These are the beaters. Laurent is on my left, and this twit hanging on my shoulder is Christian. They do a hell of a good job, but don't turn your back on them or they'll pants you in a second.or something equally as embarrassing," he eyed them.
"Oh really Vin, give it a rest. It's been three months since we passed out those adorable picture of your in your footie pajamas," Laurent laughed, moving to shake Draco's hand. "Call me Lo. It's nice to meet you," he smiled, pulling away as Christian shook Draco's hand as well.
"Lo's right Vin," he smiled at Draco as he shook his hand, "Besides, you looked so darn cute in those fuzzy pjs!"
"Anyway, Draco," he ignored them. "One behalf of everyone, we would like to offer you our house's Quidditch Captain badge. You can wear it along with your Head Boy badge." He handed the small golden pin the shape of a sun with a large 'C' in its center to Draco and the house applauded.
"At Beauxbatons, we have no house championships like you do at Hogwarts," said Camille.
"Everything is decided by Quidditch," explained Paulette.
"So it's a great honor to be Captain. Nearly as much as being Head Boy," smiled Vincent.
"Thank you," Draco smiled. He didn't know what else to do. He was a bit confused. He'd never been so welcomed, ever. And here they were bestowing honor upon him just for being him. Maybe it wasn't going to be so bad at Beauxbatons. After all, he already had a house that liked him for him, and not for his last name.
After spending a few hours celebrating his arrival with his few house members, Draco returned to the room he shared with Hermione. She'd yet to come back. Curious to see what her new house had been like, he grabbed a book and sat down where Hermione had been before intending on waiting for her return. He'd never cared to wait for her before, but he was in a strangely good mood and actually interested in what she might have to say for once.
He waited only about half an hour before Hermione came through a mirror near her door labeled with a large star above it on the wall. She gave Draco a curious look as she noticed him watching her from behind book.
"Did you meet you house?" she asked curtly, hoping it would get him to speak. It looked like he had something to say, and the sooner he spoke and left her alone, the better for Hermione. "I heard you're a Sunshine," she tried hard to hold back her smirk, but she just couldn't contain herself and let it slide through a bit.
"Yes," said Draco matter-of-factly. He seemed to boast out his chest a bit as he spoke flashing his sun symbol toward her.
Hermione stopped walking. She'd never heard Draco reply to her with the sound of pride in his voice. She gave him a curious look as she slowly walked over and sat down carefully on the edge of the armchair opposing his. Her titled head gave him the cue that she was listening and to continue.
"They're actually all quite nice if I must say so. I don't think this 'trip'," he changed his tone a bit as to not seem too pleased, "won't be a total loss." With that, he went back to his book.
Hermione just rolled her eyes and got up. She didn't say another word to him as she went into her room to owl Harry and Ron about her new house. And about her still unfortunate living situation. At the least, she could report he hadn't called her any filthy names for the day. It was some improvement, but she wasn't anywhere close to getting her hopes up. A year with Malfoy was still something she was dreading more than anything.
The returning students were scheduled to arrive between 1 and 3 pm. They were given two more hours after than to unpack, and greet people before the new students were to arrive at 5 pm at which time they would be sorted into their houses and the school would enjoy their first dinner together.
As Hermione entered the common room, she smiled at its calm demure. She loved the small trickling noise the waterfall gave off as it splashed into the reflecting pool. She walked over and looked in it. There were a few small, rainbow colored fish that hadn't been there the day before. She watched them swim in a few circles before a book shelve across the room caught her attention.
She walked over to the small shelve against the wall. She was surprised it she hadn't seen it the day before. The book titles immediately caught her fancy. She grabbed the first one to catch her eye, "Beauxbatons: A History" and took it over to a couch.
Curling up, she was easily pulled into the book for a few hours. Eventually, she heard the creak of Draco's door opening. It was the first distraction she'd had all morning.
Marking the book with her finger, she looked up to watch him sleepily stumbling his way to the bathroom they shared. She giggled at his plaid boxer shorts and ruffled ribbed white tank he wore.
He gave her a glance, but decided he was too tired to start anything and offered her a mumbled, "Morning Granger" as he entered the bathroom. A moment later, she heard the water turn on and she turned back to her book. She'd been reading about how they'd managed to enchant the walls of the potions classroom to look like water was running down them.
About thirty minutes later, Draco emerged from the bathroom having finished his shower and interrupted Hermione again. This time she continued holding the book up, but peeked at him over the edge. She couldn't help herself. He'd walked out wearing only a towel around his waist.
'Since when has Draco Malfoy had so many muscles?' she thought to herself as she stifled a giggle. 'Whoa, Hermione. What was that?! You did not just have an impure thought revolving around Malfoy. He's is pure evil. He's mean to you, he's mean to everyone!" Hermione wrinkled her nose and lifted the book back up, blocking her view. She was not attracted to Malfoy, and that was final.
~*~
"Granger are you coming?" Malfoy knocked on her room. She'd gone in after lunch to write her parents and tell them she'd arrived safely.
Impatiently he pounded again, "I'm not going to wait for you." He sighed and turned away.
Right as he was turning away, Hermione opened the door and walked past him. He gave her a look.
"Coming?" asked Hermione, stopping for him to follow.
"I suppose," he mumbled as they left together to meet their fellow students.
~*~
After the new students were sorted, Madam Maxine introduced Hermione and Draco as Head Girl and Boy. Much to their surprise and appeasement, the students responded with cheers of excitement and encouragement.
When she announced their houses, all of the etoiles and all of the soleils cheered loudly for their new members. Hermione and Draco both felt very welcomed.
When the arrival banquet was over, Draco and Hermione left to meet their new house members on a more personal level.
~*~
"Hermione!" Padma Patil called as Hermione entered Le Maison des Etoiles.
"Hello Padma!" she smiled walking over. Padma was also dressed in the shimmery blue robes that marked a student of Etoiles.
"Don't you absolutely adore it here?" she gushed. "I mean it's absolutely fantastic! Like some sort of magical fairy tale!"
"It really does seem like it," both girls giggled in excitement. They were very fortunate to be receiving such a royal treatment.
"Padma!" a voice called behind them. The girls turned to see a tall, tan girl with long, thick, wavy dark brown hair walk over. "Is this your friend from Hogwarts?" She smiled pleasantly at Hermione.
"It just happens to be her," Padma smiled.
"Jacqueline Bonnette," she smiled extending her hand to Hermione.
Hermione shook it and smiled, "Hermione Granger."
"Our new Head Girl!" she beamed. "We are very excited you're joining us! All of us Stars are extremely proud to be housing the Head Girl!" Before Hermione could reply, Jacqueline turned and called to a shorter girl with shoulder length black hair and olive skin.
"Maddie, come here! Come meet our Head Girl!" She smiled as the other girl walked over. "By the way, I forgot to mention it, but I'm a Prefect also. Seventh year too," she smiled again as Maddie arrived.
"Hi, I'm Madeleine Duval. You can call me Maddie if you like, Jacq always does," she smiled, shaking Hermione's hand. "Nice to see you again, Padma," she smiled; adding to her fellow Prefect she'd met earlier upon her arrival.
"I'm in my sixth year, my second being a Prefect," she smiled. "You're lucky Hermione, and you Padma. I'd love to be in the TriWizard Exchange! Maybe next year," she smiled.
Hermione smiled back, she like Jacqueline and Madeleine very much already. So far, everyone she'd met had welcomed her whole-heartedly.
"Oh, while you're both here, I had something I wanted to ask of you," Jacqueline said excitedly. "Every year, Prefects in Etoiles plan a welcome party. Would you like to help Madeleine and myself do it this year?"
"I'd love to," said Hermione.
"Oh, me too!" added Padma.
"Wonderful," said Maddie, "We start planning tomorrow after classes. The party will be three days from now on Friday."
"Ok," said Hermione and Padma simultaneously.
"By the way, if you have any questions for us about Beauxbatons or Le Maison des Etoiles, please ask anytime," Jacqueline smiled.
"I do actually," Hermione began, "about the name.?"
"It means 'House of the Stars'. We're encouraged at Beauxbatons to use English as much as possible as it is the main Wizarding language, so most of us refer to ourselves as 'Stars'," Jacqueline answered.
"And the other houses?" Padma asked.
"Le Maison du Soleil means 'House of the Sun'. We just call them Suns," she continued.
"Or Sunshines!" Maddie laughed, "But only to tease. It works
especially well with the boys."
All of the girls laughed.
"Yes, we do tease them a lot. Sunshines are the most outgoing people
at Beauxbatons and perennially known as the best Quidditch team," Jaqueline smiled. "Anyway, Le Maison de la Lune, means 'House of the Moon'. Moonies are generally very quiet and reflective. And Le Maison de la Mer means 'House of the Sea'. We all call the Mermaids. It's especially grand to call the boys mermaids. They absolutely detest the name!"
All of the girls laughed again.
"Etoiles is by far the best house, though!" beamed Maddie, "Well, at least we think so!"
They all laughed again.
Hermione spent the next two hours getting acquainted with Jacqueline and Madeleine, and meeting the other member of her new house.
Meanwhile, Draco was meeting the member of Le Maison du Soleil.
"Um, excuse me, hello," he said as he walked into a darkened common room. He wondered if they'd all gone somewhere. "Is there anyone here?"
Suddenly the light flicked on and the room was filled with yells of, "Welcome Draco!"
Draco's eyes widened it shock. Around him were all of the brightly robed members of Le Maison du Soleil, and they were all having a party, apparently for him!
"Draco!" he tall blonde boy walked over to him. He was rather strongly built. "Vincent Charles," he extended a hand. "We are all so excited that you're here! It's such an honor to have you as our Head Boy," he smiled warmly.
Draco was in shock. Never in his life had anyone greeted him so warmly; not even when he returned home from Hogwarts did his parents do anything out of sorts. And here he was in a room full of people, all of whom were cheering for him and waiting there turn to greet him properly.
"Um, pleasure," he shook Vincent's hand.
"I'm a Seventh year Prefect also and Keeper of our house Quidditch team. We hear you're out new Captain and Seeker!" he looked very excited.
Draco offered him a weak smile and a somewhat inaudible noise that wasn't very decipherable.
"Alex, my best friend, he is at Durmstrang; he's Beauxbaton's representative Head Boy and former Quidditch captain. Lead us the four straight years of victory! We're sure you'll have no trouble filling his shoes though! You are Head Boy at Hogwarts after all!" he beamed.
Draco simply nodded. They all seemed to have so much faith in him. No one had even had faith in him, not to his knowledge at least. Unless you count Slytherin, but none of his old housemates were worth much to him.
"Hey, can I have all of the house Quidditch team come over here?!" he called. The house cheered as two girls and three boys stepped forward to Draco and Vincent.
Draco noted they were treated as somewhat of celebrities in the house.
"This is Paulette, a fifth year Chaser," a cute girl with short brown hair shook Draco's hand, "And Camille, a fourth year chaser," a petit girl with long flowing auburn hair shook his hand. Both girls giggled after they did so.
Draco forced himself not to roll his eyes.
"And Bernard, our other fourth year chaser," he introduced a tall black haired boy. He politely shook Draco's hand.
"And these two," Vincent pointed at two tall blond boys behind him.
"Us two what?" One of them rolled his eyes.
"Admit it Vin, you adore us!" the other walked up and put in arm around the Vincent's shoulders.
"These are the beaters. Laurent is on my left, and this twit hanging on my shoulder is Christian. They do a hell of a good job, but don't turn your back on them or they'll pants you in a second.or something equally as embarrassing," he eyed them.
"Oh really Vin, give it a rest. It's been three months since we passed out those adorable picture of your in your footie pajamas," Laurent laughed, moving to shake Draco's hand. "Call me Lo. It's nice to meet you," he smiled, pulling away as Christian shook Draco's hand as well.
"Lo's right Vin," he smiled at Draco as he shook his hand, "Besides, you looked so darn cute in those fuzzy pjs!"
"Anyway, Draco," he ignored them. "One behalf of everyone, we would like to offer you our house's Quidditch Captain badge. You can wear it along with your Head Boy badge." He handed the small golden pin the shape of a sun with a large 'C' in its center to Draco and the house applauded.
"At Beauxbatons, we have no house championships like you do at Hogwarts," said Camille.
"Everything is decided by Quidditch," explained Paulette.
"So it's a great honor to be Captain. Nearly as much as being Head Boy," smiled Vincent.
"Thank you," Draco smiled. He didn't know what else to do. He was a bit confused. He'd never been so welcomed, ever. And here they were bestowing honor upon him just for being him. Maybe it wasn't going to be so bad at Beauxbatons. After all, he already had a house that liked him for him, and not for his last name.
After spending a few hours celebrating his arrival with his few house members, Draco returned to the room he shared with Hermione. She'd yet to come back. Curious to see what her new house had been like, he grabbed a book and sat down where Hermione had been before intending on waiting for her return. He'd never cared to wait for her before, but he was in a strangely good mood and actually interested in what she might have to say for once.
He waited only about half an hour before Hermione came through a mirror near her door labeled with a large star above it on the wall. She gave Draco a curious look as she noticed him watching her from behind book.
"Did you meet you house?" she asked curtly, hoping it would get him to speak. It looked like he had something to say, and the sooner he spoke and left her alone, the better for Hermione. "I heard you're a Sunshine," she tried hard to hold back her smirk, but she just couldn't contain herself and let it slide through a bit.
"Yes," said Draco matter-of-factly. He seemed to boast out his chest a bit as he spoke flashing his sun symbol toward her.
Hermione stopped walking. She'd never heard Draco reply to her with the sound of pride in his voice. She gave him a curious look as she slowly walked over and sat down carefully on the edge of the armchair opposing his. Her titled head gave him the cue that she was listening and to continue.
"They're actually all quite nice if I must say so. I don't think this 'trip'," he changed his tone a bit as to not seem too pleased, "won't be a total loss." With that, he went back to his book.
Hermione just rolled her eyes and got up. She didn't say another word to him as she went into her room to owl Harry and Ron about her new house. And about her still unfortunate living situation. At the least, she could report he hadn't called her any filthy names for the day. It was some improvement, but she wasn't anywhere close to getting her hopes up. A year with Malfoy was still something she was dreading more than anything.
